SAFETY and TRAINING
The primary goal of the Transportation Department is to promote safety, insuring
all students receive the safest transportation possible.
All school bus drivers receive extensive training in current laws, regulations and behind-the-wheel training as mandated by Federal and State regulations.
School Bus Transportation is the safest, most
economical and friendly method of transporting California's school children.
According to the National Safety Council, School Buses are:
· 172 times safer than your family automobile
· 8 times safer than passenger trains
· 8 times safer than scheduled airlines
· 4 times safer than transit buses
· 4 times safer than intercity buses
Federal and State regulations require many additional safety features be built into every school bus which are not found on any other public or private vehicle.
All school buses are inspected daily by the school bus drivers and annually by the California Highway Patrol to ensure the buses meet safety standards.
District mechanics are required to perform comprehensive inspections every 45 days or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.
School bus drivers are required by law to receive more training than any other driver in this state.
A school bus driver's background is checked by the Department of Justice and/or the FBI prior to receiving a license to drive a school bus.
School bus drivers must have a current Department of Transportation Medical Certificate (DL-51) .
School bus drivers must pass the written CHP First Aid Test or have a current First Aid Card.
School bus drivers must participate in a pre-employment drug and alcohol test and are randomly tested thereafter.
All school bus drivers must attend regularly scheduled safety meetings and attend additional training sessions to maintain the skills needed to safely transport students.
School bus drivers must have and maintain a clean driving record, both professionally and personally.
Qualifications of School Bus Driver - 12517 V.C.
School bus drivers must have and maintain:
a). Class A or B license, with a Passenger Endorsement, issued by the DMV
b). School Bus Certificate, issued by the DMV
c). Physical every two years (Annually, if over 65 years of age)
d). First Aid Certificate every three years
e). Department of Justice Fingerprint clearance at CHP
f). Department of Justice Fingerprint clearance at District Office
g). Pass pre-employment drug testing and random drug & alcohol testing
thereafter
h). Demonstrate proficiency in driving skills
The following are a few laws and
regulation that govern those who are school bus drivers or wish to
become school bus drivers.
VEHICLE CODE SECTIONS
12516. It is unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to drive a school
bus transporting pupils to
or from school.
12517. (a) No person shall operate a school bus unless that person has in his or
her immediate possession
a valid driver's license for the appropriate class of vehicle to be driven
endorsed for passenger
transportation. When transporting one or more pupils at or below the 12th-grade
level to or from a
public or private school or to or from public or private school activities, the
person shall also have
in his or her immediate possession a certificate issued by the department to
permit the operation of
school buses.
(c) The applicant for a certificate to operate a school bus shall meet the
eligibility and training
requirements specified for school bus drivers in this code, the Education Code
and regulations
adopted by the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and, shall pay a
fee………
12517.2. (a) Applicants for an original or renewal certificate to drive a school
bus shall submit a report of a medical examination of the applicant given not
more than two years prior to the date of the application by a physician licensed
to practice medicine.
The report shall be on a form approved by the department, the
Federal Highway administration, or the Federal Aviation Administration.
(b) School bus drivers, within the same month of reaching the age of 65 and each 12th month thereafter, shall undergo a physical examination, pursuant to Section 12804.9, and submit a report of medical examination on a form as specified in subdivision (a).
12517.3. (a) (1) Applicants for an original certificate to drive a school bus,
shall be fingerprinted by the
Department of the California Highway Patrol, on a form provided the Department
of the
California Highway Patrol for submission to the Department of Justice.
12517.4. This section governs the issuance of a certificate to drive a school
bus.
(a) The driver certificate shall be issued only to applicants meeting all
applicable provisions of this
code and passing the examinations prescribed by the DMV and the
Department of the
California Highway Patrol.
The examinations shall be conducted by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
(d) No holder of a certificate shall violate any restriction placed on the
certificate.
Depending upon the type of vehicle used in the driving test and the abilities and physical condition of the driver, the Department of the California Highway Patrol and the DMV may place restrictions on a certificate to assure the safe operation of a motor vehicle and safe transportation of passengers. These restrictions may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Automatic transmission only.
(2) Hydraulic brakes only.
(3) Type 2 bus only.
(4) Conventional or type 2 bus only.
(5) Two-axle motor truck or passenger vehicle only.
(e) No holder of a certificate shall drive any motor vehicle
Minimum Course Work for School Bus Driver Certification - 38157 E.C.
a). Every school bus driver must successfully complete a minimum of 40 hours
of course instruction.
b). The course shall include a minimum of 20 hours of classroom instruction in,
but not limited to, all units of the Instructor's Manual for California's School
Bus Driver's Training Course.
c). The course shall also include a minimum of 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training from the Instructor's Behind-the-Wheel Guide for California's Bus Driver's Training Course.
A typical training course requires:
34 hours: Average hours of instruction in the classroom
26 hours: Average time spent in behind-the-wheel instruction
Development or Approval of Training Courses: Instructional Personnel - 38156 E.C.
The California Department of Education School Transportation Division, with the advice and assistance of the California Department of Motor Vehicles and California Highway Patrol, develop and approve courses for training school bus drivers.
These courses provide school bus drivers with the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare for certification and endorsement pursuant to Sections 12517, 12519, and 12804.6 of the California Vehicle Code.
All courses of study and training activities are approved by the California Department of Education and given by, or in the presence of, an instructor in possession of a valid school bus driver instructor certificate of the appropriate classification.
Renewal Training Requirements - 38161 E.C.
a). For license renewal the bus driver will successfully complete 10 hours of
original or renewal classroom instruction or behind-the-wheel training during
each 12 months of certificate validity.
b). During the last 12 months of the special driver certificate validity, the 10
hours shall consist of classroom instruction covering, but not limited to,
current laws and regulations, defensive driving, accident prevention, emergency
procedures, and passenger loading and unloading.
c). Failure to successfully complete the required training, during any 12 month period of certificate validity, is cause for the Department of Motor Vehicles to cancel the school bus certificate.